We have partnered with TradePub to bring you free industry magazines and resources - no coupons or credit cards required!

Visit: englishforums.tradepub.com


Share this topic:
This question is Not Answered
Latest post Fri, May 29 2009 9:59 AM by Cool Breeze. 3 replies.
Suggest an answer | | |
khnnoufa  +  753111 Thu, 28 May 09 08:17 PM

hello

can i used the modal auxiliaries in the other grammatical moods (conditional,pottential,subjunctive,..)

beside the master mood the indicative mood.

thank.

Joined on Thu, May 28 2009
New Member 03
Cool Breeze  +  753794 Fri, 29 May 09 08:25 AM
It is advisable to learn the various ways of using the modal auxiliaries without thinking of grammatical moods at the same time. These auxiliaries lack forms (must has only one form, for example) and the potential mood, as it exists in some languages, is nonexistent in English. However, auxiliaries such as may and can can be used to convey thoughts that are expressed using the potential mood in other languages.


It is perfectly possible, though, that in many cases can may be translated into your native language using the indicative mood. Some auxiliaries are used in conditional sentences, some aren't. The subjunctive is normally formed without modal auxiliaries in English but it is possible that you have to translate some modal auxiliaries into your native language in the subjunctive mood.


If you can get a good grammar book, perhaps in your mother tongue, it explains the many uses of these auxiliaries in greater detail.


CB

Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006
Senior Member 3,970
"I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991
khnnoufa  +  753891 Fri, 29 May 09 09:42 AM
Thank you very mush,
another question :
when read a sentence content a auxiliary verb (modal,principal,or semi) do i read them in my mind as a part of the sentence or just take their meaning ?
thank .
Cool Breeze  +  753914 Fri, 29 May 09 09:59 AM
khnnoufa
“when read a sentence content a auxiliary verb (modal,principal,or semi) do i read them in my mind as a part of the sentence or just take their meaning ?”

I'm not sure I understand your question. Anyway, very often there's no knowing the exact meaning of an auxiliary without context. That means you have to take the entire sentence into account. In many cases you have to take more than just one sentence into account.


Besides, sometimes even native speakers disagree on what exactly an auxiliary means in a sentence.


CB

© MediaCet Ltd. 2009, v5.0.3607.32596. All content posted by our users is a contribution to the public domain, this does not include imported usenet posts.*
For web related enquires please contact us on webmaster@mediacet.com, status updates are available at status.mediacet.com.
*Usenet post removal: Use 'X-No-Archive'. You may not have understood that your posts would end up in the public domain. Please send proof of the poster's email, we will remove immediately.